hierarchical

American  

[hahy-uh-rahr-ki-kuhl, hahy-rahr-] / ˌhaɪ əˈrɑr kɪ kəl, haɪˈrɑr- /

Also hierarchic

adjective

1. 

   of, belonging to, or characteristic of a hierarchy.

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Other Word Forms

• antihierarchic
  adjective
• antihierarchical
  adjective
• nonhierarchic
  adjective
• nonhierarchical
  adjective
• antihierarchically
  adverb
• hierarchically
  adverb
• nonhierarchically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of hierarchical

1425–75; late Middle English. See hierarch, -ical

Explanation

If something is hierarchical it has clear levels of power and importance, such as a hierarchical corporation that has the boss at the top, or the hierarchical social order of junior high school popularity. It's lonely at the top. That pretty much sums up hierarchical, pronounced "high-eh-RAR-ki-cal." In a hierarchical structure, people or groups are arranged according to ability or status. It helps to think of a triangle, with the leader at the highest point, layers of managers under him or her, and at the base, or widest part, the masses of workers who make up the largest part of the organization.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hierarchical

Signals originating from BC6 spread through multiple visual pathways in an organized, hierarchical pattern.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

That suggests a more consistent and hierarchical internal system for directing support.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

North Korean society is deeply hierarchical, with some analysts comparing it to a caste system.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

“I had been under this societal understanding that hierarchical love, placing one partner above everything else, was the ultimate romantic expression. I could name hundreds of movies that brought that up,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

But the problems of perpetuating a hierarchical society go deeper than this.

From "1984" by George Orwell